It’s a critical moment for MSU, with next week’s rivalry and first road game at Michigan looming. And Friday also is the first day for the Spartans to begin practice for the already-tumultuous 2017-18 college basketball season. There's plenty of ground to cover, so let’s dig in and see what is on your collective minds.

Q. Who needs this win more, Iowa or MSU? Seems like with (Michigan) looming this is more a must win for MSU. – @EricOzanich

A. Though it’s a crossover game, this one is much more important for MSU than Iowa. It’s the Hawkeyes’ second game against a Big Ten East opponent in two weeks, and they will have all but one remaining game – as well as a bye week – against West Division rivals. For the Spartans, it’s critical to avoid a potential spiral, like they experienced after losing to Wisconsin to open Big Ten play last season. Getting at least one win in this Notre Dame-Iowa-Michigan trilogy is vital to making a bowl game.

Q. Fair to say that until Brian Lewerke proves he has long distance accuracy (that) opposing teams will do as ND did and load the box? – @KeithZastrow

A. Yes, especially Iowa with its veteran and aggressive front seven. However, Lewerke had some promising moments in the downfield passing game against Notre Dame, more in the intermediate range rather than pure deep balls. Remember, though his experience of getting reps last year was vital, Saturday essentially was just his fourth full game (including Maryland a year ago). That vertical passing component also took Connor Cook a few games to develop.

A. MSU doesn’t want to have a one-year separation between redshirt sophomore Lewerke and true freshman Lombardi. There would have to be a significant, possibly season-ending, injury to Lewerke for coach Mark Dantonio to think about burning Lombardi’s redshirt. And for all of the praise and hype he has been receiving, Lombardi still is only about three months into learning the offense. It still looks as if Damion Terry would be the short-term injury answer with his five years of experience. And remember, folks were begging for him to play as a true freshman when Cook eventually took flight.

Q. What is the position group that has most surpassed your preseason expectation for them? – @TheUNOVisit

A. For as surprising as the depth on the defensive line has been, the performance of MSU’s secondary has been the biggest surprise. Particularly how well Josiah Scott has acclimated himself to the starting role and become a lock-down cornerback that teams are not even looking to throw at. That said, the Spartans also have faced three QBs who haven’t exactly shown much in the passing game. Iowa’s Nate Stanley will provide the best test yet.

Q. How well has Tom Izzo been sleeping recently? – @MichaelBrother4

Q. Do you think the MSU Basketball program is clean? I worry about such things. – @SpartanRalph

Q. *crossing fingers that MSU isn't ever mentioned in DOJ investigation* Do all the recruits now come to East Lansing? – @DavidTVF

A. It’s tough to say anybody is safe when the FBI begins investigating corruption, especially with how wide-reaching this is into agents and financial advisors and shoe company executives. But there may be no two coaches who should be happy about the efforts to rid their sport of cheating as much as Izzo and Michigan’s John Beilein, both of whom are considered two of the nation’s cleanest coaches in a recent survey of their peers. Whether that means more top-end recruits, though, is tricky. This could change how those elite players view college basketball and might sway them toward an early (legal) payday, whether its going overseas or potentially playing in the NBA G-League (formerly the D-League) out of high school.

Q. When Izzo retires, think he will write a "tell all" book on what he has seen in recruiting over the years? – @stschultz

A. It would be a fascinating and likely R-rated read, I would assume. He would have plenty to tell from the past 35 years. I don't see him going all National Enquirer when he does write his memoirs, though I could be mistaken.